My pros and cons about the movie:

As we all know, movies are made for entertainment and often, they provide a psychological message to their audience. As with all movies, you need a hero and a villain, and this movie did that. But here’s where we have to be careful. If we are going to tell the story, then tell the whole story. Don’t just tell a romanticized version of it. That is why my opinion about Judas and the Black Messiah is two fold. Here are some of my pros and cons about the movie.

PROS:

I have to say it was great for someone to finally tell the story of Mark Clark and Fred Hampton’s assassinations.

Also to expose to the public the FBI’s involvement under the counter intelligence program (COINTEL-PRO).

I also think that the younger generation can relate better to a visual re-enactment than by reading it in print.

For the most part, the actors did a great job of acting and playing their roles. (Now for the cons.)

CONS:

No one involved with the movie ever contacted anyone in the Clark family about Mark or his mannerisms.

Mark was the leader of the Peoria branch, but he was depicted as if he just wondered in at the last minute.

The movie made it seem like William O’Neal was a victim even though he got paid regularly for information.

Finally and most importantly, there is no mention of other FBI informants who were also in the Chicago BPP.

If you are going to tell the story, tell the whole truth.

Peace.

Gloria Clark Jackson.